Mouthguard

Abstract

A mouthguard for protecting a wearer's teeth from bruxism, the mouthguard comprising: (a) a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a first row of teeth of the wearer; (b) a guide extending towards the wearer's second row of teeth, the guide being configured to guide the jaw of the second row of teeth such that in use, when the wearer brings their teeth together, front teeth of the opposed jaws are brought substantially into alignment with one another; and (c) a bite region at a base of the guide configured, in use, to abut the front teeth of the second row of teeth when the wearer brings their teeth together.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mouthguard for protecting a wearer's teeth from bruxism, the mouthguard comprising:
 an inner component comprising a U-shaped channel configured to receive at least a portion of a first row of teeth of the wearer;
 an outer component comprising: 
 a rigid outer shell comprising a U-shaped channel, and 
   a guide configured to extend towards the wearer's second row of teeth, the guide being configured to guide the jaw of the second row of teeth forwards and downwards in the same motion, such that in use, when the wearer brings their teeth together, front teeth of the opposed jaws are brought into alignment with one another; and   a bite region at a base of the guide configured, in use, to abut the front teeth of the second row of teeth when the wearer brings their teeth together; and
 wherein the U-shaped channel of the outer component is configured to receive the inner component, wherein the U-shaped channel of the inner component fits into the U-shaped channel of the outer component; and 
   wherein the bite region comprises:   (a) an at least partially hollow step disposed between the the U-shaped channel of the inner component and the guide, which step comprises one or more openings; and   (b) pliable foot extending downwardly from an interior portion of the inner component and being insertable into the at least partially hollow step and exudable through the one or more openings of the step so as to define a surface of the bite region for abutment against the wearer's teeth.   
     
     
         2 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the bite region is spaced from the U-shaped channel of the outer component, such that in use, when the wearer bites against the bite region, the bite region maintains the front teeth of the opposed jaws at a distance from one another. 
     
     
         3 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , configured to be worn at least partially over the wearer's top row of teeth, the guide comprising a ramped surface which extends rearwardly and downwardly towards the wearer's bottom row of teeth such that, in use, as the wearer attempts to bring their rows of teeth together, front teeth of the wearer's bottom row of teeth contact a lower end of the guide and are guided forward and downwards in the same motion, so as to be aligned and spaced apart from the front teeth of the wearer's top row of teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises an opening through which air can flow. 
     
     
         5 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the interior portion is mouldable and comprises said U-shaped channel of the inner component configured to mould to the wearer's teeth. 
     
     
         6 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more grooves or ridges configured to locate the wearer's teeth in the mouthguard.